Yes Wichita group forms to support sales tax proposal

A new group has formed in support of the proposed 1-cent city sales tax that will be on the November ballot.

Yes Wichita will hold a meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday at 610 N. Main for the public and the media.

“As we saw this issue come together over the last year and a half, several people from the community – a broad base of people – started talking and seeing this as a crossroads moment for the community,” said Jon Rolph, co-chair of Yes Wichita and president of Kasnak Management.

The proposed sales tax would collect about $400 million over five years. It would help pay for a new water source, public transit, street maintenance and repair and job development.

Last month, a group called the Coalition for a Better Wichita formed in opposition to the sales tax. That group’s organizers say they mainly oppose the nearly $80 million job development portion of the sales tax.

On Monday, the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce board of directors voted to support the proposed sales tax.